SAYING I LOVE YOU was not what it's cracked up to be.
When I told him I loved him, I thought my life would change, and perhaps it did, just not in the way I expected.
I said I love you, and he said…
Well, he didn't say what I expected him to say, but then…
They needed me, they had no daughters, only sons, and I would be a great asset to the kingdom. Didn't I want to be an asset to the crown?
I said yes because I loved him and he begged me to go.
I wonder if I'll ever see him again.
THE FAIR LASTED THREE days, and she was excited to visit a fair as grand and noble as the one Mytho promised.
The few fairs Arnis had were small, lasting only a few hours, the smell of fish strong in the air, and she would always go. It was the only time the royal family came down from their ivory tower, and she would give anything to spend time with him.
With…
"Ahiru, look!" Mytho rested his hand on her arm and pointed to the tents, being hoisted up, the people milling around, chatting and laughing as they set up their booths, children ran between their mother's legs, picking up sticks and swinging them like swords. "It's starting, we should go now."
"Now? No one else is ready?" Ahiru laughed at his excitement.
"I am."
Ahiru looked over at Princess Kraehe. She pulled a white glove down her wrist, securing it in place.
"Princess Kraehe." Ahiru curtised.
"Princess Odette." She curtsied back.
"You-you can just call me Ahiru." She gave the Princess a crooked smile. She only gave the offering because she knew she'd never respond if someone called her by that name.
Princess Kraehe offered a small smile. "Ahiru. You may call me Rue, as I have instructed Mytho to call me. No sense in calling a future sister-in-law something so formal."
Ahiru relaxed, she had been worried that Pr- Rue would be like Autor, a little more cold, a little less polite, but Ahiru thought her to be kind, and sweet.
Someone she could call friend.
Ahiru heard the sounds of footsteps echoing behind her, and turned to the grand staircase.
"Good morning, Miss. Edel!"
Miss. Edel smiled, she held Uzura's hand in her own as she made careful steps down the stairs. "Good morning, my dear."
"We were just leaving for the fair, will you join us?" Mytho asked.
"I was asked to attend with Herr Drosselmeyer and the Queen, but Uzura cannot be kept still."
Ahiru smiled. "Of course we'll take her with us."
"How kind of you, Princess." Edel said, and she curtsied. "Go, Uzura."
"Yes, zura!" She shouted, she let go of her mother's hand and ran to Ahiru, colliding into her satin covered legs. "Let's go, zura!"
"Ready?" Mytho asked, and the doors opened, the sun filtered into the room and Ahiru closed her eyes, breathing in the fresh air.
She and Rue nodded, and Mytho escorted them down the palace steps to the fair.
Mytho was more than excited, "It's been a long time since we've had a fair. The last one, it must have been five years ago, I was only fifteen then."
"How young." Rue remarked. She stood straight, she held her hands pinned to her sides and kept her chin level with the ground.
It was good she was to be queen, Ahiru thought, a queen ought to be graceful and the picture of elegance.
Ahiru let herself be distracted by Uzura, who pulled at her hand every time they passed a booth so she had a chance to look inside and see what was there.
Ahiru tried to restrain Uzura, telling her she couldn't buy everything there, that she had to save it for what she really wanted.
It was half way through the day when Uzura stopped and pulled at Ahiru's hand.
"I want to go back there, zura!"
"Why? We already went that way." Ahiru said.
"But, I want a ribbon, zura! For my hair!" Uzura patted her head.
Ahiru smiled, she turned to Mytho and Rue, how kindly they stopped and waited for Uzura whenever her curiosity got the better of her. "You go on ahead, we'll catch up."
"Are you sure?" Mytho asked.
"Yeah, I'm sure!" Ahiru smiled, her hand was being tugged roughly by Uzura, but she didn't move just yet. "I'll see you around!" She waved and let Uzura lead her astray.
Rue and Mytho waved, they fell back easily into their conversation.
"It's back here, zura!"
"I remember." Ahiru smiled. "Across from the blacksmith's tent." She squinted her eyes and looked out over the tents to find the only one that had an open roof and smoke billowing up from it.
"Here we are, zura!" Uzura bounced up and down as she ran back through the tent, letting her hand pass over each and every ribbon that hung in the air.
Ahiru smiled as she watched, but she also saw the little girls that touched the ribbons with the tips of their fingers, as if they were afraid they would ruin it. She could tell they wanted the ribbons just as much as Uzura did.
Ahiru squatted down in front of the little girls, of which there were five in total, and said. "What's your name?"
"Cordelia."
"Would you like a ribbon?"
Cordelia nodded. "Yeah, but Mama says we can't afford it." She pouted, sticking out her bottom lip.
Ahiru smiled, she toyed with the one Cordelia pet earlier. "Do you know who can afford it?"
Cordelia thought for a second, but then shook her head.
"I can. Why don't all of you pick your favorite ribbons and I'll purchase it for you. I'll even braid them into your hair."
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
The little girls squealed in pure joy and picked from the kaleidoscope of ribbons.
"I want this one!"
"Is this one too much?"
"No, nothing is too much." Ahiru said.
"Look at this one! Look at this one!"
"Can I get this one?"
"Of course." Ahiru nodded, beaming at the little girl.
"'Nd, can you braid it into my hair?" The little girl tugged at her hair.
"I will. If you want me to."
She grinned brightly.
Ahiru went to the booth's owner and smiled. "Sorry, I caused quite a bit of havoc."
"It's quite alright! Those little girls with their sad eyes, I was about to just give them my ribbons, you saved me a pretty penny."
"Ahiru." Uzura came up beside her, tugging her dress. "I'd like this one, please, zura."
Ahiru held out her hand and took the ribbon, and soon all of the ribbons were in her hand and she was placing a fair amount of money into the shopkeepers hand.
Ahiru sat out front of the booth on a crate, she placed Uzura in front of her and picked out her ribbon from the bunch.
"Now, how would you like it to be tied in your hair?"
Ahiru spent a long time with those young girls, she braided the ribbons carefully into their hair, or used the ribbon to tie it all up, but in the end, each girl had a pretty ribbon to showcase.
"You're really pretty, miss."
"Thank you."
"How come I've never seen you before?"
"Well, I came here from Arnis to marry My- Prince Siegfried."
The girls gasped, even Uzura. "You're a princess?"
Ahiru gave them a half grin and a nod, and that excited them so much more, they gave clumsy bows and asked her questions.
What was it like to be a princess?
What was the prince like?
Do you love the prince?
Ahiru listened to them patiently, allowing them to ask their questions, she had fallen in love with these little girls.
She learned their names, the first and eldest was Cordelia, she had black hair and chose a sea blue ribbon that perfectly contrasted the dark shade of her tresses. There was Tilda, with pale blonde hair and green eyes, and her little sister Lottie. Chiara, who had red hair, that curled like corkscrews, and proved a challenge to braid, and Luise, who favored pale pink, her hair a dark brown, her eyes the same color.
Uzura was fast friends with all of them and Ahiru knew that her next few days would be spent in the presence of these little girls.
"Do you want one, Princess?" Lottie asked, she had her hands pressed into Ahiru's knee, leaning into her as she talked of Arnis and her people.
Ahiru looked over at the booth, she did see one that she liked. It was simple, a plain yellow ribbon, it shone in the sunlight and it made her feel warm.
"I have plenty of ribbons, oh but look." Ahiru touched the ribbon that had loosened, the braid slowly coming undone. "Sit down and let me fix it."
Ahiru set to work, but didn't notice the eyes that watched her from across the way.
She had to know he was right there, she had to have seen him, but as Fakir looked out at her, it was obvious that her intentions were not to show off her wealth, but they were genuine.
He scowled and crossed his arms.
What game was she playing?
"Fakir, you're going to scare customers." Charon clapped Fakir's shoulder roughly.
"Do you know who that girl is?"
"Which one?" Charon looked around, every girl from the kingdom was here, Charon couldn't tell which girl he referred to.
"Over there, at Elif's ribbon booth, she's braiding the ribbons into-"
"Oh! Yes I see her." Charon nodded his head and scratched his chin. "She's very pretty."
"What? That doesn't matter. Ugh, never mind."
Charon rolled his eyes, but smiled nonetheless. His attention was then drawn to a young couple who admired a metal broach he made, and Fakir was left to mope.
She had to know.
She had to know he was right there.
She didn't know.
She didn't know he was right there.
She had no clue!
Fakir growled under his breath and left his booth.
He made his way across the crowd until he stood beside her and even then she didn't notice.
"Hey. Didn't I tell you yesterday you couldn't be trusted to watch children? Why do you have five more?"
"Fakir!" Lottie cried, going to him and tugging at his hand. "Have you met the Princess?"
"She bought us ribbons!" Chiara smiled, pulling at the green bow that held up half of her hair.
"I can see."
Louise whispered into Ahiru's ear, and she laughed.
Ahiru beamed at Louise, before turning her brilliant smile on him, "She says that I should buy you a ribbon and braid it into your hair."
The young girls became a clamor at the thought, and one hand became five all pulling him down until he knelt beside Ahiru.
He gazed up at her and was dazzled by the sun, resting just behind her head, nearly blinding him, but making her look-
He cleared his throat. "I have to go."
The girls whined as he stood again.
"Will you be here tomorrow too, Fakir?" Cordelia asked.
"I will be in Charon's booth, yes." He said.
"You should make us hair pins! And then we can have even more ways for the Princess to play with our hair."
"Ahiru." She said.
"What?"
"I told them to call me Ahiru."
"But you're a princess!" Tilda cried. "We have to address you formally!"
The five girls gave her wobbled curtsies and she laughed.
"Don't worry about addressing me formally. Fakir, is there anything else you would like to say?" She turned to him, her smile vanquished and she gave him the coldest glare she could manage.
He pursed his lips, but was unable to come up with a mild enough retort to say to her in front of the girls. He bowed instead. "No, nothing at all."
"Good."
"I bid you goodbye, Your Highness."
Ahiru bristled as he left. She knew it was an insult, that no one called royalty by such a title.
"It's okay." Tilda patted Ahiru's arm. "We'll braid his hair tomorrow."
Ahiru smiled at Tilda, but in her heart she hoped she didn't have to see him tomorrow, she hoped she never saw him again.
AHIRU FELT AWKWARD AS she sat in the Queen's box, she smoothed out the wrinkles of her dress and could only think of how miserable she was going to be.
She hated watching the games, she didn't like seeing men attack each other for no reason other than a test of strength.
She also sat in an awkward position.
She sat in the leftmost chair, and as a result, could only hear half of what was being spoken between the Queen and her two sons, not well enough for her to add anything to the conversation, not well enough to at least enjoy what was being said.
She felt a pull at her gown, Ahiru opened her eyes and looked down to find Uzura.
"Uzura? What are you doing here?"
"I want to sit in the box, zura! Mama said I couldn't, but I want to, zura."
"Alright." Ahiru looked over at those in the box, but if they noticed the little girl who had stumbled in, they had nothing to say about it. "You'll have to sit on the ground, you can't sit on my lap."
"Okay, zura!" She stood by Ahiru's chair, bouncing on her toes as the Queen stood and with a loud voice announced that the games would begin.
Everyone cheered and shouted, and Uzura covered her ears.
The first few games were small and inconsequential, sword brawls, falconry, and archery, no, the main problem started when the first steed came out.
Ahiru tried not to watch, instead she looked out over the stadium, and noticed the various sections the people sat in. The only separation were the small flags people held to show which house they cheered for. There was a multitude of color, but when Ahiru looked at the knights that danced in the arena and could see their alignment.
She looked above her, the same green flag that hung on the palace walls, she didn't see any knights that belonged to the royal family.
Uzura gasped lightly as a knight mounted on a horse, both covered in magenta and shining gold, came out of the gate with a lance and galloped his horse to a bar hung high embellished with hoops for him to catch with his lance.
He only missed once, but when he finished, Uzura watched where his horse went and decided that she wanted to see the horses for herself.
She stepped out of the box.
Ahiru looked down, noticing too late that Uzura was gone. Her hands grasped the chair as she looked around for the small child.
"What's wrong?" Mytho asked, leaning over in his chair.
"Nothing!" She answered, far too shrilly. "But, um, I'll be right back!"
Ahiru stood and left the Queen's box, trying her best to find Uzura in the crowds.
"Ooh, Uzura!" She whispered to herself. "When I find you…"
For a moment, the sea of people parted and Ahiru got a clear glimpse of Uzura walking towards the gate.
"Of course she wanted to see the horses." Ahiru rubbed her temple, but picked up her skirts and made her way to the gate.
"Excuse me, pardon me, I'm sorry I just need to squeeze through!" Ahiru panted as she finally made her way into the gate.
"I'm sorry, but you're not allowed back here."
"I'm sorry, my charge wandered in I need to-"
"No entree."
She pouted. "I just need to retrieve her!"
He was silent.
She groaned. "She's right there, look!"
"Sorry, ma'am."
"Didn't I tell you to keep a better eye on her?"
Ahiru screwed her eyes closed. Maybe if she just pretended he wasn't there he would go away.
"Look, zura, It's Fakir, zura!"
Ahiru gave Fakir a wide grin, he held Uzura's hand, making sure she wasn't trampled by the horses.
"You can let her in," He told the guard. "She's the Princess Odette Ahiru of Arnis."
The guard turned pale and stumbled as he tried to go into a low bow. "My- my apologies! I had no idea-!"
"It's alright." Ahiru said, she placed her hand on his shoulder. "You were just obeying orders."
She picked up her skirts once more and went to where Fakir stood.
"Thank you, but I can take her back now."
"I don't think you should, I think you're incapable." Fakir turned and lead Uzura away. She twisted back around and waved goodbye to Ahiru.
She scoffed. "So, you're just going to kidnap her now?"
"I think the term rescuing applies here a bit better." He bent down and picked up Uzura, placing her on the saddle. "Don't you?"
Uzura giggled and smiled. She leaned forward and pet the horse's mane.
"Careful." Fakir said, placing his hand on her back. "You don't want to fall off."
"I won't, zura."
Ahiru watched in silent wonder, he was so gentle with Uzura, with his horse, and it was obvious why those little girls adored him.
Why was he such a jerk to her?
"I want to thank you." He said.
"Pardon?" What had he said? Were her ears deceiving her?
"Yesterday. Coredila, Tilda, the girls. Their parents aren't well off, and their fathers are off at war. They aren't used to being shown kindness."
Ahiru blushed and looked at the ground. "I- I didn't know that. It's just the way they looked at the ribbons and they reminded me-" of myself. "I didn't want them to go home from the fair without something to remember it by. Mytho said it had been a long time since there was a fair."
"And for good reason."
"So, you're still at war with-"
"Baden Wurttemberg? Yes. But with the agreement that Rue and Autor will marry, and combine our states, the war will end."
"Is- Or rather, are men still out there? Still at battle?"
Fakir shook his head. "No, a ceasefire has been called. It was issued a few months prior when their arrangement was first brought into play."
"Oh. That's good then, right? For the girls?"
"In some ways, it is. But in others-"
"Fakir, is my steed ready?"
Ahiru looked over at a knight dressed in full armor. He strode up to them, his cape a firey red, pinned to his chest with a metal broach. Fakir peeled Uzura away, holding her in his arms.
"Yes, Berinhard."
The knight took the horses reins, but before he left he placed a heavy hand on Fakir's shoulder. "Good luck." The Knight smirked and winked she lead the horse away.
"Those men will forever be scarred by war." Fakir continued as if he had never been interrupted.
Ahiru averted her eyes and nodded.
"They're a lost cause, but it doesn't mean that their daughters should suffer."
Fakir passed Uzura into her arms.
"You should go back, they'll be looking for you."
Ahiru nodded, taken aback by how soft his voice became.
Ahiru and Uzura made their way back to the Queen's box and she felt uneasy as she sat down.
"Oh good, you're back, you're just in time for the Black Knight." Mytho whispered into her ear with excitement.
"Who's the Black Knight?"
"The Black Knight is a mystery, no one knows who he is, he doesn't claim any house, and walks under no flag, only nobles are allowed to participate, Lords and such, but he is the best knight anyone has ever seen. I'm sure everyone is here to see him."
In the audience, during the earlier games, some held up different colored flags to represent their preferred knight, navy and silver, white and gold popped above the crowd, but as Ahiru looked out over them all, almost all carried a black piece of cloth, waving it in the air as a knight in dirty, black armor rode out on a horse.
"I'm not allowed to cheer for anyone but the Queen's knight." Mytho pointed down to the knight in shining armor and red cape. "Berinhard, the Earl Of Stäke House.
"But, if I had a choice, I would be carrying the biggest black flag anyone had ever seen."
Ahiru gave him a smile, and watched as the shining knight on his horse, and the knight in dirty armor jousted.
Not even one round and the Queen's knight had been unseated.
The crowd erupted into cheers calling out praises for the Black Knight, even Berinhard, who pumped his first in the air.
AHIRU HELD UZURA'S HAND as she lead her through the fair one last time before everything would be taken down.
"Alright, what do you want to do, Uzura?"
"I want to find Coredila, zura! And Tilda!"
"I bet they're at the ribbon booth again." Ahiru smiled and laughed as Uzura tugged her towards Elif's booth.
"Princess!" Was the chorus as she drew near.
The little girls gave her their wobbly curtsies, and Ahiru gave them a curtsy back.
They pulled Uzura away from her and they sat, they chatted and braided each others hair, trading ribbons and giggling.
But, their laughter seemed to be interrupted by a band of marauders dressed in dark attire.
"Make way!" One called. "The famous black smith of Rothenburg has come to challenge the so called black smith of Nordlingen! Make way!"
"Who's that?" Lottie asked, her arms were wrapped around Ahiru's neck as she told her secrets.
"I don't know. But they're being very disruptive."
Ahiru looked over at Fakir, currently the only black smith at the fair.
He seemed bored.
The band came to the small tent and entered without approval.
"And who might you be?" One of the men asked.
"Fakir. The black smith you so wish to challenge."
He guffawed. "Look at his face! You are but an inexperienced child."
"I haven't been called a child in years, and I am hardly inexperienced."
"Quick witted too, what ever shall we-"
But he was cut off when a man raised his hand.
"You are the black smith of Nordlingen?"
"I am."
The man removed his cloak and passed it to the heckler.
"I challenge you then, to a battle of craftsmanship."
"I accept."
The people around Ahiru began to gossip, but she was too low to the ground to hear any of it.
She stood, distangling Lottie's arms and made her way through the crowd until she stood in front, able to watch it all.
"And what shall our challenge be."
"A sword." Fakir said.
The man's lips curled into a smile. "Don't you know what I am famous for making?"
"I believe the broadsword comes to mind." Fakir answered.
"And this is still what you chose?"
Fakir nodded.
"It is your death then."
And they began.
It was hard to see, as everyone pushed and tried to see who would win.
She knew it would take a while, and when others started to see that this would not be a competition won like the tournaments the other day, they slowly trickled away.
Ahiru stayed, rooted to her spot as she watched the two men create two swords, and by the time Fakir had finished, it was nightfall.
He threw water onto the metal and it hissed and sizzled, but he wrapped a leather strap around it's handle and held it aloft.
"I think we're done here."
The black smith looked at him in disbelief, his sword not even out of the fire.
"How?" The blacksmith abandoned his sword and swiped Fakir's from his hand. "How have you done this? Look!" He turned back to his entourage. "He even added two swans to its hilt!"
"You may finish yours, if you'd like and we can test the quality."
The black smith shook his head and handed Fakir back the sword. "No, my good sir, you have proven yourself to me." He held out his hand, and Fakir shook it.
"Come." He snapped his fingers and he and his followers left.
"Wow, Fakir, that was amazing. How did you do that?" Ahiru stepped up to the booth, vacant besides the two of them now that the action was over.
He looked over at her and shrugged. "I've been making swords since I was eleven, I probably should have challenged him in making arrowheads, I'm terrible at those."
Ahiru laughed. "You bamboozled him."
He gave her the ghost of a smile and shook his head. "Here, give this to Mytho for me, will you?"
She took the sword in her hand, and it was light. "I thought swords were supposed to be heavy?"
"Not the way I make them."
She held the sword out. "Would this even do damage?"
"Yes, here, let me show you." He came out from his tent and took the sword back. There was tree between his booth and the one beside him with a low hanging branch thicker than Ahiru's wrist. He took a wide stance and brought the sword down on the unexpecting tree, but it was sharp and strong and took down the branch without causing the wood to so much as chip.
"Wow! You're amazing!" Ahiru picked up the branch and ran her finger around it's edge. "Poor tree, though."
"The tree will live." Fakir said, patting the tree's trunk. "You should get back, he'll be expecting you."
"Who will?"
He gave her a funny look. "Your betrothed?"
"Oh! Right, of course."
He passed her the sword, and she took it, allowing her fingers to pass over his.
"The next event, the- the"
"The Baursspiel?"
"Yes! Will you be there?"
He nodded. "I will be."
"Good."
She turned around, unable to stop the blush that overcame her cheeks.
Fakir only looked at his hand, he couldn't help but think that her hands were rather rough to be the hands of a princess.
"ARE YOU SURE YOU don't want to go?" Ahiru asked Mytho, who sat at the breakfast table.
"Of course, the Baursspiel is an event for peasants, we don't have to watch."
"Right, of course." Ahiru nodded. "Well, I'm going, so, I'll see you in the afternoon."
"I'm sure you'll be back sooner, it's an awfully boring event."
Ahiru smiled and gave a curtsy to all who were at the breakfast table.
"Ahiru." Edel called. "Uzura will be staying with me today, so don't worry about her."
"Oh, thank you."
"SO WHAT IS THE Baursspiel?" Ahiru asked Fakir, she picked up her skirts as she tread over the grassy field resting outside the Kingdom's walls.
"It's a Königsspiel for us commoners." He rolled his eyes, they followed in the procession that lead to the edge of the forest.
"Alright. What's the Königsspiel?"
"You mean you don't know anything about the history of the people you're marrying into?"
"Uh-" Ahiru thought back to hours she spent with Edel, learning about how to be a proper princess. "I didn't have the time to learn."
"The Königsspiel is centuries old, as old as Bavaria herself. When Bavaria first became a state separate from the Prussian Empire, they had no idea who to make king. The strongest man, who could lead them in any war? The smartest man, who could solve any problem? The man with the most heart, whose kindness would help all? The answer was not easily found, until one day, the people decided they would have a game."
"A game?"
"Yes, a game. They learned that the forest was filled with enchanted creatures."
"Like fairies?"
"No one knows for sure. But, the first game was won, and the man who succeeded was pronounced king. And that's how it was played for a long time, but in recent generations, the Königsspiel is a test for the future king to prove himself worthy to his people. Anyone can challenge the Crown Prince, but most fail, not realizing the stakes the Königsspiel presents."
"It sounds dangerous."
Fakir offered her a small smile. "It is. But, the Baursspiel is a small chance to see what it's like, we're not allowed to go any farther than a mile in."
"Oh? How far will Autor have to go?"
Fakir grimaced, he clenched his fist but it went entirely unnoticed by Ahiru, her eyes locked on the forest. "The length of a marathon. Twenty-six miles."
"Wow! Really?
"A round trip, so he'll travel thirteen miles in, and then thirteen miles out."
They reached the edge of the forest, and many stopped to pull out blankets and quilts, laying them on the floor as others, mostly young men and boys, traveled into the forest.
"Are you going in?"
Fakir produced a small blanket and threw it out over the grass. "No."
"Oh." Ahiru sat down on the blanket as she watched the young men disappear into the forest. "It's so thick, I can't see anything!"
Fakir nodded. "That's why most don't go to watch."
"But you watch?"
He nodded. "If something happens, I can go in and help."
"Oh. That's very noble of you."
"I care for my people."
Ahiru studied him, there was a look in his eye, a fierce determination that she couldn't explain.
"Uzura's not with you today."
"No, her mother, Miss Edel kept her. She wants to keep some of their old learning schedule intact."
"Good, now I don't have to worry about you losing her."
"Hey! I-" Ahiru looked over and her anger vanished when she saw his teasing smile. Her anger mostly vanished. "You're a jerk."
"Oh, ouch."
"So, can you tell me why you were a jerk before?" She asked shyly, she pulled her legs to her chest, and rested her chin on her knees.
"I thought you were like them." He whispered, so quietly she almost didn't hear. "So many of the nobles outside of Bavaria care very little for the people they govern."
"So you just assumed I was like that?"
"I did. It was unfair of me. But, I also care very much for Mytho," He smirked. "He's like a brother to me."
"I don't want to hurt him. I like him. A lot."
"But he deserves someone who will love him."
Ahiru nodded. "I know. What's he like?"
"Haven't you been spending every waking hour with him?"
Ahiru shook her head. "No, but he and Rue talk a lot. I've mostly been taking care of Uzura."
"I'm happy he's not engaged to her. I would have to protest greatly to that match."
"Why? Rue's really pretty. And nice."
"She's the daughter of the king who killed my- who killed Autor's father. Her marriage to Autor is only to bring peace, but I don't trust her blood."
"You really don't think she could be different from her father?"
"She was born and raised in a war ridden country, obsessed with expanding its borders. There's no doubt in my mind that they have been teaching her to be the very same."
"You don't think that a person can be more than what they were born to be?"
He gave her a sideways glance. "Perhaps a person can, but I find that if a boy is born into a family of shepherds, he'll grow to be a shepherd."
Ahiru thought of her father. Who was she born to be? She should be thanking her stars that she was here, in clothes smoother than satin rather than the cotton dress she used to wear. She rose above her station, but she was also lying, and was that any better than being a fisherman's wife?
There was a sharp cry and Fakir stood up, his hand on the sword at his belt.
A mother stood from her blanket and opened her arms to her son, who wandered out of the forest with a scrape on his knee.
Ahiru smiled, and Fakir sat down.
"Just a booboo." she said. "What do you know about Autor?"
"Autor." He said, he sat back down and picked up a blade of grass, rolling it between his fingers before letting it flutter away in the wind. "He had to witness the death of two fathers, he watched his younger brother grow with popularity, he prefers to spend his days inside, studying, rather than being outside, being with people. For a king, it's not a good image."
"He's very rude."
"He can be. I don't think I've ever seen him hold his tongue to anyone. He's become entitled with the knowledge that in a month's time he will be king. It's poisoned him."
"He doesn't sound very nice." Ahiru pouted, she was fortunate that she wasn't marrying him, but she felt pity for Rue, who was.
"He can be. Just not often, and not in ways that are obvious to others."
Ahiru furrowed her eyebrows together, her mind toiling over what he said about the Crown Prince. "You don't want him to be king, do you?"
Fakir let out a small breath of air, and Ahiru liked to think it was a chuckle. "No, I don't, but talk like that will lead to my execution."
"Who would you think would be a better king? Mytho?"
"Shh."
Ahiru smiled. "Sorry. Hey, in a few days, at the parade, I'm supposed to have someone lead my horse, can you do it?"
"You want me to take up the position of a servant and guide your horse from the palace, around the kingdom back to the palace?"
"Yep."
He turned to look at her, breaking his stare contest with the forest. "Why?"
Ahiru fiddled with her fingers. "You're… different."
"Different how?" Fakir turned his face back to the forest, but his attention was on her.
But in truth, she didn't know how.
In Arnis, her friends called her silly and clumsy, the man she thought loved her sent her away, and used her love for his own selfish gain. No one acknowledged her, and no one paid her any kindness.
Here, as a Princess, she was treated with an undeserving amount of respect. The girls bowed to her, the fake name she used was announced for all to hear, Autor treated her with hostility, Rue treated her with kindness, and Mytho treated her with hospitality.
But Fakir…
From the first moment she had meet Fakir, no one had treated her like that. She watched as he rescued a child, and then scolded her, she watched the little girls' fondness for him, she watched how gently he treated Uzura, and when given the chance, how he treated her in much the same way.
He treated her like a person.
Not the daughter of a fisherman.
Not a Princess.
But, a person.
She smiled at him. "You just are."
He rolled his eyes. "How did I know you would say that." He gave a heavy sigh. "I will lead your horse."
She clapped her hands. "Thank you!"
"Don't get too excited, I'll complain the whole time."
"No you won't."
There was another cry, and he was back on his feet, he went to the edge of the forest, looking for who cried out.
The viewers were quiet, they watched him, wondering what he would do next.
There was another shout and Fakir raced into the forest, and in a second everyone rose to their feet.
"What happened?"
"Do you think he'll be alright?"
"It's Fakir, of course he'll be alright. And he'll save that poor boy too."
Ahiru was slower to stand, she was confused by the commotion. Was it really so serious? But now she was worried too.
The other boys flooded out of the forest, faces of fear and panic broadcasting to everyone the danger that was in the forest. There was a strange sound that echoed from the branches, the leaves shook and birds took flight.
Ahiru started walking towards the forest, why did he do that? Why did he risk his life? What if he didn't save that boy? What was Ahiru to do?
"Hey wait!"
"Stop!"
"Don't go into the forest!"
Voices called out to her, but she didn't hear them, her feet kept marching to the forest's edge.
Hands grabbed at her and pulled her back.
"Don't worry, it's Fakir, he'll save that kid. He always does."
"What if he doesn't?" Were the quick, harrowed words that came from her lips and she wormed her way out of the man's grasp and ran to the tree line. "Fakir!"
She saw shadows, the slow movements of two people limping out of the forest. Ahiru fisted the fabric of her dress and ran inside.
"Fakir!" She shouted. "Oh thank goodness you're alright."
Fakir offered himself as a crutch to the young boy whose leg appeared to be broken. The pant of his leg appeared to have ripped off, and his skin was covered in scrapes.
"Did you really just run into the forest I just told you was dangerous?" Fakir raised an eyebrow at her.
"I wanted to make sure you'd be alright."
He blinked at her. "I'm fine. Get out of here."
Ahiru walked towards him and placed herself under the other arm of the young man.
Fakir let out a heavy sigh. "Idiot."
Her mouth fell open. "Jerk!"
"You should have stayed out of the forest, it's dangerous!"
"I wasn't sure if you'd be okay!"
"Obviously I am! Let's get moving."
Ahiru scowled but nodded, she placed her arm on the young man's lower back, bumping into Fakir's, and they started to walk the young man out of the forest.
The young man mumbled something under his breath.
"What was that?" Ahiru asked, turning her ear closer to him.
"He's been mumbled this whole time." Fakir said, he shook his head. "I can't make out a word of it."
Ahiru looked up at Fakir before she returned her attentions to the young man.
"The-" He said, still breathing heavily. "The forest."
"What about the forest?" She prompted, her voice low.
The young man groaned in pain. "The- the forest, its-"
"Look, here they come!"
Ahiru and Fakir stepped out of the forest, there was a scream and the mother of the young man came to him.
"Oh my sweet boy! I told you you would get hurt."
"Not now, mom." He said, his voice starting to sound stronger.
"Oh Fakir, thank you, thank you so much." The mother cried, a tear rolled down her face and she patted Fakir's cheek. She turned to Ahiru and smiled at her. "Princess."
Ahiru smiled back.
The crowd gave a weak cheer for Fakir and his bravery, but he waved it away.
"You should go home." He said. "Get some rest."
She nodded. "Right."
"I'll walk you back."
She gave a shy smile, but looked back at the forest, unable to shake the feeling that a thousand eyes had been watching her.
AHIRU STEPPED INTO THE palace and waved Fakir good bye.
"Finally, you're back." Mytho strode forward and smiled. "I was worried you passed out from the boredom."
"It was fun. I talked to Fakir mostly."
Mytho perked up. "Really? I thought he botched it when he abandoned you on the ballroom floor at the banquet."
"He did, but he made up for himself."
Mytho hummed. "What do you think of him?"
"He's-" Ahiru pursed her lips, there was really no other word to describe him. "He's a jerk."
He groaned. "Oh no, I knew it. You hate him. I promise he's a good person underneath, he just has a protective layer."
"I know."
"And- What do you mean you know?"
Ahiru give him a tiny smile. "He's very good with Uzura."
She started walking down the halls and Mytho was quick to follow her.
"I'm glad to hear it. My wife and my best friend should be on good terms."
"I was worried, that first night, if he really was such a brutish man that I couldn't spend much time in the same room as him. But, I wouldn't want you to have to pick between your best friend and your wife."
"That's very kind of you."
"He thinks of you as a brother." Ahiru said. "I think it's sweet."
Mytho's smile faded. "It is."
"Oh, did I say something wrong?"
"No, no you didn't. You just reminded me of a conversation I had with him a few weeks prior."
"Should I change the subject?"
"Yes."
"Do you know the girls Coredila, Lottie, Luise, Chiara, and Tilda?"
Mytho raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
"Oh! They're these girls I met at the fair, they're very sweet, but their fathers have been away at war."
"It's nice to see you getting to know your future kingdom, but I'll admit, you're doing better than me."
Ahiru stood before her door, and turned to him. "Well, I bid you goodnight."
"Good night."
She smiled, opened the door and shutting it behind her, Ahiru leaned against it and smiled to herself. He had a way of making her feel breathless.
Even with just a few words, a few simple words strung together to make a compliment.
She was beginning to feel that she could give him her heart.
MISS EDEL PLACED HER hand on Ahiru's leg. "Don't be nervous, you've been riding horses for years."
Ahiru wanted to disagree, in fact this was her first time riding a horse.
She hoped it didn't show.
"It's just a short trip around town, you won't even notice it." Miss Edel assured her.
Ahiru shook her head. "What if I fall?"
"You won't. It's just around the town and then to the final Festival. The ball."
Ahiru nodded. "Right. And everyone will be watching me."
"I have faith in you."
Ahiru smiled.
"Ready?" Fakir asked, walking up to her and stretching out her hand for the reins.
She nodded. "Yes."
The parade consisted of many things, there were stilt walkers, jugglers, fire breathers, a small percussion line, and rows of nobility, first from her Kingdom, the three Lords her kingdom had to offer, and a single duke. They would leave after her marriage to Mytho, and they knew to keep their lips tight about who she was.
Then there were the nobles from Baden Württemberg, but most notably, from Rothensburg. There were Lords and Ladies, Barons and Baronesses, Earls and Countesses; Dukes and Duchesses.
Ahiru counted thirty in total, but she knew she missed a few.
She suddenly felt small, she felt like a small little girl riding a horse for the first time, she felt like a small town girl, her kingdom the smallest in all of Germany, she couldn't even bring herself to count the nobles of Bavaria, all present to partake in the marriage of their King and Prince.
Perhaps that is the real reason they chose her to go, not because the King and Queen had no daughters, but because they didn't want to really give up any of their royal blood.
"Ahiru. Are you alright?"
Ahiru broke out of her thoughts and looked to Fakir, his head was forward, and he walked at a steady pace, and it took a minute to realize that her horse was moving, and had been for a while.
"Yes! I'm fine! I'm sorry."
"Don't be, just start smiling and waving."
Ahiru nodded, she painted on a smile and waved to every onlooker, but her heart was troubled.
She didn't belong here.
The parade was short, blissfully so, she noticed a few familiar faces in the crowd, Miss. Elif, the boy who broke his leg, her cloud of canaries, waving their ribbons around in the air as she passed.
And soon she was back in the palace stable, her legs sore, and begging to come down off the saddle.
"Careful, I'll help you down."
Fakir offered his hand, but it was already too late, her foot stuck in the stirrup as she swung her leg over the other side, she was unable to stop herself from falling.
"Woah!" She let out a gasp of surprise, but didn't hit the ground.
Fakir had caught her.
"I told you to be careful, you're not good at listening, are you?"
"Well, I-!"
"Hold still, I'll get your foot." Still holding her, he reached forward and plucked her foot from its trap. "There."
With two feet planted on the floor, and two hands still holding onto his arms, her two eyes looked up into his.
"Thank you."
She pulled away, suddenly embarrassed. "Well! I have to get ready! For the ball. It's tonight!"
Ahiru was quick to walk away, her face red as red could be and was surrounded by a gaggle of maids all trying to get her ready for the ball.
AHIRU LAUGHED AS MYTHO threw her around the ballroom in a sloppy waltz that neither of them knew the steps to.
"You're an amazing dancer!"
"Truly the best. All others should be ashamed." He held her hand in his, his other creeping across her waist as he pulled her close.
Someone cleared their throat.
Mytho and Ahiru stopped and turned to Fakir.
"May I cut in?"
Mytho grinned, trading Ahiru's hand into Fakir's. "She is yours."
Ahiru smiled as she watched Mytho go, he found Rue immediately and offered her his hand. She had been seated at the table, her dancing partner had abandoned her long ago.
"You did well today." He said.
"Oh, thank you?"
He placed his hand lightly on her waist, just barely touching her, and moving her into a simple waltz.
"On the horse, I mean."
"Why- why wouldn't I have? I've ridden horses all my life."
"You seemed nervous." His steps took a turn, starting a more complicated dance.
"I don't normally ride in parades. I'm surprised you wanted to dance with me, considering last time."
"I owe you a dance, do I not?"
She smiled. "Yes, you do."
His steps grew more complicated, but she didn't notice, even when she herself didn't know the dance.
It was a grand thing, he lead her around in wide circles, spinning her around and out, she smiled and laughed at it all, and didn't mind when the rebound resulted in her crashing into his chest.
The song ended, and those around them applauded the musicians and their set.
"May I have the next dance?"
Ahiru and Fakir turned around to see Herr Drosselmeyer, a man who had never spoken to her before.
Fakir's hand instinctively tightened around hers.
"Of course." He said. He lifted her hand and deposited it into Drosselmeyer's.
Ahiru looked back to Fakir, begging for help, for him to come back, but he was already gone, covered by the veil of party goers.
"I believe we have not met face to face. My name is Herr Drosselmeyer."
"I am Princess Odette Ahiru." She said, and he began a waltz.
"You must excuse the behavior of that young man, he is only a black smith's son."
"Fakir? He's my friend, he's a little bit of a jerk but-"
"What did you say his name was?"
"Fakir."
Drosselmeyer's face paled. "I believe you are mistaken. That young man is named Fritz."
Ahiru shook her head, "He's never told me to call him that."
Drosselmeyer's hand tightened, and his grin widened. "Ah, a miscommunication, how tragic, perhaps in the future it would be wise to refer to him by his proper name!"
"Right. Fakir."
"There is no man here named Fakir."
Ahiru gave him a strange look. She didn't think her Majesty's advisor was doing too well. "Al- alright, I'll take your word for it."
"You would do well to keep your companionship inside the castle walls. If you veer out of it, people may suspect you prefer lying in the mud with common folk, over dining with kings."
"All the riches of the world are but mud without true friendship." She argued back, unsure as to where this came from.
"Keep your wits about you, you don't want to be caught on the wrong side of history."
He left her, the musicians only halfway done with their song, and she was left in the middle of the ballroom all over again.
All she could do was watch as he walked away, her eyes glued on the salamander embroidered on the back of his coat.
"How rude of my grandfather."
Ahiru jumped and looked over at Autor.
Where had he come from?
"Let me finish his dance." Autor took his place, taking her hand, placing his other on her waist. "He is an old fool, you must forgive him."
"Right."
"A woman of few words, or perhaps you just aren't quick enough to form a proper sentence?"
Ahiru looked around the room, trying to find Mytho, to flag him down and have him rescue her, but she saw him across the dance floor dancing with Rue. They smiled at each other and they were so absorbed in one another, she was sure he'd never notice her.
"Perhaps you should look in your partner's eye."
Ahiru looked up at him and glared. "Maybe I should get a partner that doesn't talk down to me."
"I am just trying to teach you basic etiquette. Who was your tutor back in Arnis? They did a very poor job of it."
"They did well enough to teach me when to know I'm being talked down to." She pulled out of Autor's thorny embrace and made her way to the grand staircase that would lead her to her room.
The corridor was dark, no one was supposed to leave the ballroom for several more hours, but she couldn't stop the tears that rolled down her cheeks.